“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” — C.S. Lewis

Hi there! I’m so happy you’re here.

Beginning the process of healing takes an incredible amount of courage. If you’ve found your way here, it likely means you’ve been carrying something heavy. Maybe it’s grief or loss, anxious thoughts that won’t quiet, self-doubt, or simply the exhaustion of trying to hold everything together. I would be honored to walk alongside you through the messiness of life, the hard seasons, the questions, and the pain. I also want to celebrate your growth, achievements, and the milestones that mean the most to you.

I come to this work not only as a therapist, but as someone who has personally known what it feels like to feel lost and in deep need of support. I understand the quiet courage it takes to ask for help and the relief that can come from not having to navigate the messiness of life alone. I also know firsthand that even in the midst of chaos, pain, and uncertainty, it is possible to rediscover a sense of peace, hope, and purpose. It would be a true privilege to help guide you towards that.

I currently specialize in working with teens, young adults, and individuals from all walks of life navigating anxiety, depression, eating disorders, relationship challenges, identity exploration, life transitions, and more. My approach to therapy is warm, relational, collaborative, and compassionate. I draw from Person-Centered Therapy (PCT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I help clients better understand themselves, navigate overwhelming emotions, build healthier coping skills, strengthen relationships, and feel more grounded and connected in who they are. Together, we can work toward meaningful change and a more fulfilling life. 

I believe that faith and spirituality can be both deeply meaningful and deeply complicated. I have spent much of my life in faith-based spaces, so I am also keenly aware that hurt, disappointment, and trauma within these spaces can run quite deep. If faith is central to your life and supports your healing, I am honored to integrate it into our work together. If faith has been a source of pain or confusion, there is space here to ask the hard questions and to give voice to the doubts and struggles you’ve carried silently. I believe this is crucial to the healing process. I provide a nonjudgmental space where the hard questions are welcomed and your story and journey are met with care and intentionality. 

Our humanity, with all its brokenness, is deeply worthy of compassion. You don’t have to have it all figured out to start healing or growing, and you don’t have to face your struggles alone. You are welcome here, just as you are.

Areas of Focus

• Anxiety & perfectionism
• Depression
• Eating disorders & body image concerns
• Self-esteem & identity
• Grief & loss
• Relationship challenges
• Life transitions
• Teens & young adults
• Faith-related struggles & spiritual integration (upon request)

Experience With

• Eating disorder treatment in a high-acuity hospital setting
• Crisis intervention & acute mental health care
• Supporting teens, young adults, and individuals from diverse backgrounds and life experiences

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Point Loma Nazarene University

Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling
Point Loma Nazarene University

samantha sees clients at both the University Heights and La Mesa locations.